Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Set Design News? Suggestions? Let me know!

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Paramitch
Player
Player

Joined: 10/16/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12

Topic: Set Design News? Suggestions? Let me know!
Posted: 11/04/10 at 7:08pm

Hi you guys,

I'm a longtime participant here, and am now the Guide for a brand-new section at the About.com community: Performing Arts (http://performingarts.about.com/), so I wanted to send over a quick hello and invitation for feedback.

In my news coverage, I'll be working extremely hard to address local as well as national, and on areas that don't always get as much love or recognition as they should, like set design, costume design, administration, stage management, and more.

With this in mind, I'd love your suggestions on covering set design on an ongoing basis:

1. What kinds of articles or features would you find most helpful?

2. What kinds of industry interviews would you like to see?

3. What information would help you on a practical level as a member of community theatre?

4. If you yourself are a set designer, have you done some work lately that you think should be highlighted? I'll take a look!

Thanks for this chance to say hello, and I hope you'll drop me a line, stop by, and say hello. I already know how brilliant you guys are, so hope you'll keep in touch!

Cheers,

Angela

Angela Mitchell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Performing Arts Guide, About.com
http://performingarts.about.com
performingarts.guide@about.com
Twitter PerfArtsGuide

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10mricchiuto
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 12/16/10
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 12/17/10 at 12:40am

I would love to see how or here how I can cut down on the costs of building sets by using different materials or how or were to look for building materials also how to's for getting around not being able to afford the best equipment or props. That would be great Also I am working on building a set for blood brothers in a studio setting and depending how it turns out be it I would love to help you by sending in pictures or whatever you would need.

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TonyDi
Celebrity

Joined: 9/13/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 325

Posted: 12/17/10 at 7:28am

I know everyone here who knows me from being a member in the past, knows my pet peeve and something I'm adamant about, is community theater people learning how to do stage makeup properly. I have as yet to see too many community theater folks who really truly have a grasp of this craft and they need severely to be educated. I AM still working on writing a book or a DVD series on BASIC and ADVANCED STAGE MAKEUP application and preparation. One of these days it will be out there for consumption. But if you're starting something that broad to educate the people interested in doing community theater work, this is ALWAYS IGNORED on most sites or in most communities - even those with teaching agendas for their members and youth. Colleges do a lousy job often doing useless and time-wasting stuff that has very limited practical application in the real world of theater and community theater.

So it would be interesting to see a highly targeted stage makeup tutorial section or discussion section that is offered by well-qualified (and well screened) artists and craftspersons who are really capable and accomplished at doing this kind of work so that those actors or so called makeup artists who "do their own makeup work" can be taught properly. Although that "TYPE" are the hardest to convince that they haven't a clue about what they're trying to do when it comes to this highly specialized craft.

TonyDi

By the way I KNOW that doesn't necessarily address your post specifically but if you're going to have the power of that kind of pen, then please consider this facet - often under-addressed facet for the edification of those who want and need to know and those who already think they do....but really do not.

Edited by TonyDi - 12/17/10 at 7:30am

"Almost famous"

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Paramitch
Player
Player

Joined: 10/16/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12

Posted: 12/17/10 at 7:35pm

Hi you guys, thanks for the feedback!

mriccchiuto, those are great questions, and they're actually crucial elements that I'd like to cover in my set design Q&As to come. I've noted your questions and will make an effort to incorporate specific answers into upcoming columns, and will post a note here as well, when I've done so. Just in case it helps! On the props question, interestingly enough, I've got a blog post on just this subject posting late tonight, so I'll be interested in the response to that.

TonyDi, I agree on the importance of using stage makeup correctly -- it's one of those essential basics I'm working up as the foundation of my column (there will always be these new "basics" pieces like that added on a continuous basis -- right now these include detailed pieces on makeup, stage management, promotion, press sections, fundraising, and more).

In launching my About.com section over the past 5 weeks, at this point I've covered some bases, and did do a basic article on Stage Makeup 101 here (at http://performingarts.about.com/od/Industry-Tips/ht/Stage-Makeup-101.htm), and would love your feedback on it (good or bad). The piece is culled from my own experiences as a performer, as well as from friends and assorted experts. I will be adding additional items in Makeup -- eventually videos, I hope -- as well as product reviews and interviews and Q&As with makeup artists on meeting specific challenges.

I hope this helps! And if you see something I can fix or improve, I'm listening.

Meanwhile, I encourage you guys to check out my site at http://performingarts.about.com/ to see how it's coming along. I've got several additional interviews to post over the holidays, and am also going to be adding some specific and comprehensive references and glossaries specific to community and regional theatres, as well.

Cheers, and keep in touch -- don't be afraid to dop by and say hello!

Angela

Angela Mitchell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Performing Arts Guide, About.com
http://performingarts.about.com
performingarts.guide@about.com
Twitter PerfArtsGuide

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bmiller025
Star
Star

Joined: 10/06/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 82

Posted: 1/07/11 at 12:46am

Hi Angela,

I think there is always room for demonstrations of, and discussions of innovative solutions for scenic designs for commonly performed plays and musicals. So many postings to forums such as these are from folks who haven't been able to get a handle on how to do a certain show. There are several on this website right now!

I am a set and lighting designer, and also a photographer, and I am constantly documenting my work, but it is sometimes hard to find how others have done a particular show, especially for those with low budgets. It takes more than a few photos, I think, to help another designer do more than just copy your design, but discussing a play in a manner that will help others to come up with their own interpretations of the work can only help. Come up with a format on the site that will enable participants to present their work in such a manner, and I think this could be a big contribution!

http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Topic: Set Design News? Suggestions? Let me know!( Topic Closed)

Author	Message
Paramitch Player Joined: 10/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Topic: Set Design News? Suggestions? Let me know! Posted: 11/04/10 at 7:08pm
	Hi you guys, I'm a longtime participant here, and am now the Guide for a brand-new section at the About.com community: Performing Arts (http://performingarts.about.com/), so I wanted to send over a quick hello and invitation for feedback. In my news coverage, I'll be working extremely hard to address local as well as national, and on areas that don't always get as much love or recognition as they should, like set design, costume design, administration, stage management, and more. With this in mind, I'd love your suggestions on covering set design on an ongoing basis: 1. What kinds of articles or features would you find most helpful? 2. What kinds of industry interviews would you like to see? 3. What information would help you on a practical level as a member of community theatre? 4. If you yourself are a set designer, have you done some work lately that you think should be highlighted? I'll take a look! Thanks for this chance to say hello, and I hope you'll drop me a line, stop by, and say hello. I already know how brilliant you guys are, so hope you'll keep in touch! Cheers, Angela
	Angela Mitchell ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Performing Arts Guide, About.com http://performingarts.about.com performingarts.guide@about.com Twitter PerfArtsGuide

	IP Logged

10mricchiuto Walk-On Joined: 12/16/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 12/17/10 at 12:40am
	I would love to see how or here how I can cut down on the costs of building sets by using different materials or how or were to look for building materials also how to's for getting around not being able to afford the best equipment or props. That would be great Also I am working on building a set for blood brothers in a studio setting and depending how it turns out be it I would love to help you by sending in pictures or whatever you would need.
	IP Logged

TonyDi Celebrity Joined: 9/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 12/17/10 at 7:28am
	I know everyone here who knows me from being a member in the past, knows my pet peeve and something I'm adamant about, is community theater people learning how to do stage makeup properly. I have as yet to see too many community theater folks who really truly have a grasp of this craft and they need severely to be educated. I AM still working on writing a book or a DVD series on BASIC and ADVANCED STAGE MAKEUP application and preparation. One of these days it will be out there for consumption. But if you're starting something that broad to educate the people interested in doing community theater work, this is ALWAYS IGNORED on most sites or in most communities - even those with teaching agendas for their members and youth. Colleges do a lousy job often doing useless and time-wasting stuff that has very limited practical application in the real world of theater and community theater. So it would be interesting to see a highly targeted stage makeup tutorial section or discussion section that is offered by well-qualified (and well screened) artists and craftspersons who are really capable and accomplished at doing this kind of work so that those actors or so called makeup artists who "do their own makeup work" can be taught properly. Although that "TYPE" are the hardest to convince that they haven't a clue about what they're trying to do when it comes to this highly specialized craft. TonyDi By the way I KNOW that doesn't necessarily address your post specifically but if you're going to have the power of that kind of pen, then please consider this facet - often under-addressed facet for the edification of those who want and need to know and those who already think they do....but really do not. Edited by TonyDi - 12/17/10 at 7:30am
	"Almost famous"
	IP Logged

Paramitch Player Joined: 10/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Posted: 12/17/10 at 7:35pm
	Hi you guys, thanks for the feedback! mriccchiuto, those are great questions, and they're actually crucial elements that I'd like to cover in my set design Q&As to come. I've noted your questions and will make an effort to incorporate specific answers into upcoming columns, and will post a note here as well, when I've done so. Just in case it helps! On the props question, interestingly enough, I've got a blog post on just this subject posting late tonight, so I'll be interested in the response to that. TonyDi, I agree on the importance of using stage makeup correctly -- it's one of those essential basics I'm working up as the foundation of my column (there will always be these new "basics" pieces like that added on a continuous basis -- right now these include detailed pieces on makeup, stage management, promotion, press sections, fundraising, and more). In launching my About.com section over the past 5 weeks, at this point I've covered some bases, and did do a basic article on Stage Makeup 101 here (at http://performingarts.about.com/od/Industry-Tips/ht/Stage-Makeup-101.htm), and would love your feedback on it (good or bad). The piece is culled from my own experiences as a performer, as well as from friends and assorted experts. I will be adding additional items in Makeup -- eventually videos, I hope -- as well as product reviews and interviews and Q&As with makeup artists on meeting specific challenges. I hope this helps! And if you see something I can fix or improve, I'm listening. Meanwhile, I encourage you guys to check out my site at http://performingarts.about.com/ to see how it's coming along. I've got several additional interviews to post over the holidays, and am also going to be adding some specific and comprehensive references and glossaries specific to community and regional theatres, as well. Cheers, and keep in touch -- don't be afraid to dop by and say hello! Angela
	Angela Mitchell ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Performing Arts Guide, About.com http://performingarts.about.com performingarts.guide@about.com Twitter PerfArtsGuide
	IP Logged

bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 1/07/11 at 12:46am
	Hi Angela, I think there is always room for demonstrations of, and discussions of innovative solutions for scenic designs for commonly performed plays and musicals. So many postings to forums such as these are from folks who haven't been able to get a handle on how to do a certain show. There are several on this website right now! I am a set and lighting designer, and also a photographer, and I am constantly documenting my work, but it is sometimes hard to find how others have done a particular show, especially for those with low budgets. It takes more than a few photos, I think, to help another designer do more than just copy your design, but discussing a play in a manner that will help others to come up with their own interpretations of the work can only help. Come up with a format on the site that will enable participants to present their work in such a manner, and I think this could be a big contribution!
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
	IP Logged